Manipulator and polishing mechanism thereof

ABSTRACT

A manipulator includes a controlling seat, a robot arm assembly and a polishing mechanism. The robot arm assembly is rotatably connected to the controlling seat; and the polishing mechanism is mounted on the robot arm assembly. The polishing mechanism includes a housing with a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, a pair of magnetic valves mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the controlling seat, a first polishing assembly partially received in the first mounting portion, and a second polishing assembly partially received in the second mounting portion. The first polishing assembly and the second polishing assembly define an angle therebetween and are respectively connected to the pair of magnetic valves, such that the pair of magnetic valves controls the first and the second polishing assembly respectively to polish one or more workpiece. The present invention further discloses a polishing mechanism of the manipulator.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to manipulators, and more particularly, to a manipulator for de-burring and a polishing mechanism of the manipulator.

2. Description of Related Art

Burrs on metallic workpieces produced by fabrication processes are typically removed manually. An operator polishes the metallic workpiece with a sandpaper to remove the burrs. However, such de-burring polishing process is labor-consuming, the work efficiency is relatively low and the workpiece may be fractured easily during the polishing process.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a manipulator having a polishing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a partially assembled, isometric view of the polishing mechanism of the manipulator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the polishing mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the polishing mechanism of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows three working states of the manipulator of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a manipulator 300 includes a controlling seat 301, a robot arm assembly 303 and a polishing mechanism 100. The robot arm assembly 303 is rotatably connected to the controlling seat 301. The polishing mechanism 100 is mounted on an end of the robot arm assembly 303 away from the controlling seat 301. The polishing mechanism 100 is electrically connected to the controlling seat 301. The polishing mechanism 100 is capable of polishing a plurality of surfaces of a workpiece 200 (see FIG. 5) when driven by the robot arm assembly 303. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the workpiece 200 is turned over for polishing, and includes a curved base wall 201, a sidewall 203 extending along a periphery of the base wall 201. A top surface 205 is formed on the sidewall 203 away from the base wall 201.

The polishing mechanism 100 includes a housing 10, a pair of magnetic valves 20, a first polishing assembly 30 and a second polishing assembly 50. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 10 is substantially in an “L” shape, and connected to the robot arm assembly 303. The housing 10 includes a rear cover 11 and a front cover 13 combined to the rear cover 11. The rear cover 11 includes a bottom plate 111 and a sidewall 113 extending along a periphery of the bottom plate 111. The bottom plate 111 and the sidewall 113 cooperatively form a receiving chamber 114 therein to be receiving the magnetic valves 20. The bottom plate 111 is substantially in an “L” shape. The sidewall 113 includes a first side plate 115, a second side plate 117, and a third side plate 119. The first side plate 115 is parallel to the third side plate 119 and perpendicular to the second side plate 117. The first side plate 115 is connected to the robot arm assembly 303, and includes an air channel 1112 received in the receiving chamber 114. The first polishing assembly 30 is mounted on the second side plate 117, and the second polishing assembly 50 is mounted on the third side plate 119. The second side plate 117 includes a first mounting portion 1172 adjacent to the first side plate 115 and a first receiving portion 1174 connected to the first mounting portion 1172. The first mounting portion 1172 communicates with the air channel 1112. The first receiving portion 1174 is connected to an end of the first mounting portion 1172 away from the air channel 1112. The third side plate 119 includes a second mounting portion 1192 extending toward the first side plate 115 and a second receiving portion 1194 connected to the second mounting portion 1192. The second receiving portion 1194 is connected to an end of the second mounting portion 1192 away from the first side plate 115. The first receiving portion 1174 and the second receiving portion 1194 are both in a semi-spherical shape.

In the embodiment, the front cover 13 is the same as the rear cover 11 in structure. The front cover 13 includes a bottom plate 131 and a sidewall 133 extending along a periphery of the bottom plate 131. The sidewall 133 includes a first side plate 135, a second side plate 137, and a third side plate 139. The first side plate 115, the second side plate 117 and the third side plate 119 of the rear cover 11 are connected to the first side plate 135, the second side plate 137 and the third side plate 139 of the front cover 13, respectively. The second side plate 137 includes a first mounting portion 1372; the third side plate 139 includes a second mounting portion 1392. The third side plate 139 includes an air channel 1312 received in the receiving chamber 114. The difference between the rear cover 11 and the front cover 13 is that, the air channel 1312 is located on the third side plate 139 opposite to the second side plate 137 and communicates with the second mounting portion 1392, such that the air channel 1312 is capable of supplying air to the second driving assembly 50.

The magnetic valves 20 are received in the receiving chamber 114 of the rear cover 11, and electrically connected to the controlling seat 301. One magnetic valve 20 connects with the air channel 1112 of the rear cover 11 and the air channel 1312 of the front cover 13 via a pair of air conduits 21. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first polishing assembly 30 includes a driving member 31, an eccentric connecting member 33 and a disc sander 35 connected in that order. The driving member 31 is mounted in the first mounting portion 1172 of the rear cover 11 and is electrically connected to one magnetic valve 20. In the embodiment, the driving member 31 is a pneumatic motor. The eccentric connecting member 33 is connected to the driving member 31 and partially received in the first receiving portion 1174. The disc sander 35 is movably connected to the eccentric connecting member 33.

The second polishing assembly 50 is received in the receiving chamber 114 of the rear cover 11 and defines an angle with respect to the first polishing assembly 30. In the embodiment, the first polishing assembly 30 is perpendicular to the second polishing assembly 50.

The second polishing assembly 50 includes a driving member 51, an eccentric connecting member 53 and a disc sander 55 connected in that order. The second polishing assembly 50 is the same as the first polishing assembly 30 in structure, except that a diameter of the disc sander 55 is greater than that of the disc sander 35.

In the embodiment, the polishing mechanism 100 further includes a connecting plate 60 mounted on a flange 305 (see FIG. 1) fixed on the robot arm assembly 303. The connecting plate 60 connects with the first side plates 115, 135.

In assembly, the magnetic valves 20 are mounted on the bottom plate 111 of the rear cover 11 and electrically connected to the controlling seat 301. The pair of air conduits 21 is respectively connected to the air channels 1112, 1312. The driving member 31 is mounted on the first mounting portion 1172 of the rear cover 11. The disc sander 35 is movably received in the first receiving portion 1174. Then, the driving member 51 is mounted on the second mounting portion 1192 of the rear cover 11. The disc sander 55 is movably received in the second receiving portion 1194. The front cover 13 is mounted on the rear cover 11 to seal the receiving chamber 114. The connecting plate 60 connects with the first side plates 115, 135, such that the polishing mechanism 100 is mounted on the robot arm assembly 303.

Referring to FIG. 5 again, when in use, the workpiece 200 is fittingly fixed. The robot arm assembly 303 drives the polishing mechanism 100 to move below or under the workpiece 200. The first polishing assembly 30 is controlled by one magnetic valve 20 to polish the top surface 205 of the workpiece 200. When the robot arm assembly 303 drives the polishing mechanism 100 to move toward a periphery of the workpiece 200, the first polishing assembly 30 polishes an outer surface of the sidewall 203 of the workpiece 200. When the robot arm assembly 303 drives the polishing mechanism 100 to move above the workpiece 200, the second polishing assembly 50 polishes an outer surface of the base wall 201 of the workpiece 200. The burrs formed on the top surface 205, the sidewall 203, and the base wall 201 of the workpiece 200 are removed by the polishing mechanism 100.

Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A manipulator configured for polishing one or more workpiece, comprising: a controlling seat; a robot arm assembly rotatably connected to the controlling seat; and a polishing mechanism mounted on the robot arm assembly, the polishing mechanism comprising: a housing comprises a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion; a pair of magnetic valves received in the housing and electrically connected to the controlling seat; a first polishing assembly partially received in the first mounting portion; and a second polishing assembly partially received in the second mounting portion, wherein the first polishing assembly and the second polishing assembly define an angle therebetween and are respectively connected to the pair of magnetic valves, such that the pair of magnetic valves controls the first polishing assembly and the second polishing assembly, respectively, to polish a workpiece.
 2. The manipulator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rear cover and a front cover combined to the rear cover, the rear cover comprises a bottom plate and a sidewall extending along a periphery of the bottom plate, the bottom plate and the sidewall cooperatively form a receiving chamber therein receiving the magnetic valve, the front cover has a structure same as that of the rear cover.
 3. The manipulator of claim 2, wherein the sidewall comprises a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, the first side plate is parallel to the third side plate and perpendicular to the second side plate, the first side plate is connected to the robot arm assembly, the first polishing assembly is mounted on the second side plate, the second polishing assembly is mounted on the third side plate.
 4. The manipulator of claim 3, wherein the first mounting portion is formed on the second side plate adjacent to the first side plate, the second mounting portion is formed on the third side plate extending toward the first side plate.
 5. The manipulator of claim 4, wherein the first side plate of the rear cover comprises an air channel in the receiving chamber communicating with the first mounting portion, the front cover comprises an air channel on a third side plate thereof communicating with the second mounting portion, the pair of air channels of the front cover and the rear cover, connect with the pair of magnetic valves respectively.
 6. The manipulator of claim 3, wherein the first polishing assembly comprises a driving member, an eccentric connecting member and a disc sander connected in that order, the second polishing assembly has a structure the same as that of the first polishing assembly, the driving member of the first polishing assembly is mounted in the first mounting portion of the rear cover and electrically connected to one magnetic valve, the driving member of the second polishing assembly is mounted in the second mounting portion of the rear cover and electrically connected to another magnetic valve.
 7. The manipulator of claim 6, wherein the second side plate comprises a first receiving portion connected to the first mounting portion, the third side plate comprises a second receiving portion connected to the second mounting portion, the eccentric connecting member of the first polishing assembly is partially received in the first receiving portion, the eccentric connecting member of the second polishing assembly is partially received in the second receiving portion.
 8. The manipulator of claim 7, wherein the first receiving portion is connected to an end of the first mounting portion away from the air channel of the rear cover, the second receiving portion is connected to an end of the second mounting portion away from the first side plate, the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion of the rear cover are both in a semi-spherical shape.
 9. The manipulator of claim 6, wherein a diameter of the disc sander of the second polishing assembly is greater than that of the disc sander of the first polishing assembly.
 10. The manipulator of claim 3, wherein the polishing mechanism further comprises a connecting plate mounted on a flange of the robot arm assembly, the connecting plate connects with the first side plates of the rear cover and the front cover.
 11. A polishing mechanism for polishing one or more workpiece, comprising: a housing comprises a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion; a pair of magnetic valves received in the housing; a first polishing assembly mounted on the first mounting portion; and a second polishing assembly mounted on the second mounting portion, wherein the first polishing assembly and the second polishing assembly define an angle therebetween and are respectively connected to the pair of magnetic valves, such that the pair of magnetic valves controls the first and the second polishing assembly respectively to polish one or more workpiece.
 12. The polishing mechanism of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a rear cover and a front cover combined to the rear cover, the rear cover comprises a bottom plate and a sidewall extending along a periphery of the bottom plate, the bottom plate and the sidewall cooperatively form a receiving chamber receiving the pair of magnetic valves therein, the front cover has a structure same as that of the rear cover.
 13. The polishing mechanism of claim 12, wherein the sidewall comprises a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, the first side plate is parallel to the third side plate and perpendicular to the second side plate, the first side plate is connected to the robot arm assembly, the first polishing assembly is mounted on the second side plate, the second polishing assembly is mounted on the third side plate.
 14. The polishing mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first mounting portion is formed on the second side plate adjacent to the first side plate, the second mounting portion is formed on the third side plate extending toward the first side plate.
 15. The polishing mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first side plate of the rear cover comprises an air channel in the receiving chamber communicating with the first mounting portion, the front cover comprises an air channel on a side plate thereof communicating with the second mounting portion, the pair of air channels connect with the pair of magnetic valves respectively.
 16. The polishing mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first polishing assembly comprises a driving member, an eccentric connecting member and a disc sander connected in that order, the second polishing assembly has a structure the same as the first polishing assembly, the driving member of the first polishing assembly is mounted in the first mounting portion of the rear cover and electrically connected to one magnetic valve, the driving member of the second polishing assembly is mounted in the second mounting portion of the rear cover and electrically connected to another magnetic valve.
 17. The polishing mechanism of claim 16, wherein the second side plate comprises a first receiving portion connected to the first mounting portion, the third side plate comprises a second receiving portion connected to the second mounting portion, the eccentric connecting member of the first polishing assembly is partially received in the first receiving portion, the eccentric connecting member of the second polishing assembly is partially received in the second receiving portion.
 18. The polishing mechanism of claim 17, wherein the first receiving portion is connected to an end of the first mounting portion away from the air channel of the rear cover, the second receiving portion is connected to an end of the second mounting portion away from the first side plate, the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion of the rear cover are both in a semi-spherical shape.
 19. The polishing mechanism of claim 16, wherein a diameter of the disc sander of the second polishing assembly is greater than that of the disc sander of the first polishing assembly. 